Autobot Menace!In a strange coincidence, I got taken out of action for a little over a week by a minor car accident. I'm nearly certain that I saw the Autobot insignia on the offending vehicle.
- Jabberwocky More >

It was a little strange to find out that Cartoon Network UK wouldn't be airing Transformers: Animated, a show which had been created by the network's U.S. counterpart. Thankfully the series has found a home outside of the Americas, which is detailed in an article by C21Media:

The latest instalment in the ongoing battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons is set to air on Nickelodeon in the UK, Gulli in France and Germany's Super RTL.

(...)

"We recently extended distribution rights to include Latin America, where broadcasters are also showing great demand for the series," said ER's director of international, Chloe van den Berg. "We expect to announce new agreements in due course."

Just now waking up from your holiday meal-induced coma/stupor? Welcome back, and don't forget to check out the one and a half hour Transformers: Animated premiere tonight at 8 on Cartoon Network. Unless, of course, you're not in the United States. In that case, you can go back into hibernation until the new year.

The podcast section of Cartoon Network's site has been updated with a new clip from Transformers: Animated. This two minute high-quality video features the opening credit sequence and an interesting fight sequence sprinkled with a bit of humor. To see it for yourself, click here.

In more Transformers: Animated news, an in-depth look at the series has been posted at Newsarama. The article gives a great summary of the show's plot and the direction it's heading, along with some information provided by Transformers: Animated's story editor Marty Isenberg.

“Bumblebee was originally Hotshot in the development,” he admits, "but we were told that Bumblebee was going to be a breakout character in the live action movie, so we happily swapped that one out. Ratchet was originally Red Alert, and believe it or not, was female! Bulkhead at one point was going to be the crusty veteran, but we shifted his role when we changed Red Alert to Ratchet.”

Hasbro has updated their Transformers site with an entire section devoted to Transformers: Animated. Visit the site to check out character bios, desktop wallpapers, buddy icons, and a 30-second intro video for the series, which kicks off in the States this December 26th at 8pm on Cartoon Network.

The full biographies for Transformers: Animated's three main human characters have been posted on Transformers At The Moon. One particularly interesting bit comes to us in the bio of Sari Sumdac:

Sari acts as the unofficial ambassador to the planet Earth for the AUTOBOTS, cluing them in on such alien concepts as junk food, school, sleep, popularity, shopping, belching contests, fashion and the dreaded tow away zones.

An entire episode pitting the Autobots against the Decepticons in a belching contest that ends with Bumblebee getting towed from the mall parking lot? Book it.

Cartoon Network's website has been updated with a new card game featuring Transformers: Animated. Slightly similar to Pokemon or Magic: The Gathering, Action Packs has you choose a deck of character cards and put them into battle against your opponent (in this case the computer).

A Seibertron members by the name of Stormrider recently had the chance to talk to Frank Welker, the voice actor behind many characters in the original Transformer series - including a slightly less-than-nice fellow named Megatron. Some of his roles outside of Transformers might just surprise you.

Stormrider: Let's talk about some of your other roles. What are some of your favorite characters other than Transformers?

Welker: Dynomutt, Jabberjaw, Baby Kermit, Slimer, Dr. Claw, Fred Jones (sentimental favorite), the Gopher in "Caddyshack!". This is too difficult of a question; it's like asking a cannibal if he has ever met a person he didn't like?!?

The interview is fairly lengthy, and well worth checking out for any Transformers fan.

Cartoon Network's official site for Transformers: Animated has been updated with a few new features. First is an episode guide that covers all 29 episodes of the upcoming series, complete with detailed summaries for each show.

Next up is a new sneak peek video from the show. If you're a Mac user, you're out of luck since Cartoon Network's website doesn't support you heathens.

You can access each of these features right from the front page of the website. Transformers: Animated will debut in the U.S. on December 26th.

Transformers Animated is set to premiere on the 26th of this month on Cartoon Network in the U.S., but its future in the United Kingdom isn't so clear. Transformers At The Moon is reporting that the upcoming series will not air on Cartoon Network UK - a seemingly odd move when you consider that it's being produced internally by Cartoon Network Studios.

We have just had it confirmed by the UK Kids Entertainment Press Officer at Turner Broadcastings that the 2008 Transformers show Transformers Animated will not be airing on Cartoon Network here within the UK. Cartoon Network UK are not aware of whom, if anyone, currently holds the right to air the series within the UK.

We'll keep an eye on the situation and let you know when the series finds a home in the UK.

Tformers.com has put together a great interview with Jeff Shiffman, the man behind the sound effects in the upcoming Transformers Animated series. A lot of topics are covered, including the definitive answer to an ages-old debate that has ruined far too many lives.

Hobbes: Finally, please settle an age-old fan debate: How do you spell the Transformers transformation sound?

According to Comics Continuum, Cartoon Network has confirmed that Transformers Animated will premiere on December 26th at 8pm with "Transform And Roll Out!", a feature-length animated film that acts as the series' pilot.

"Optimus Prime and his small crew of Autobots come into possession of the AllSpark, a powerful Cybertronian artifact that attracts the attention of their long-forgotten enemies the Decepticons and sends them crashing to a strange and distant planet known as Earth.

"Set on Earth in the near future in Detroit, the alien Transformers are thrust into a world populated by humans and automatons. As visitors to Earth, the Transformers -- Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Prowl, Bulkhead and Rathcet-- work in the human world, interacting with the Śnativesą in exciting and humorous ways. Transformers Animaed has been created to showcase the heroic Autobots working together to battle the evil Decepticons and save Earth with kid-relatable plot lines filled with humor, distinctive character personalities, and dynamic action."

Thanks to Seibertron for reporting that the original Transformers cartoon series has begun broadcasting on Joost, the online video content provider that's currently in beta. All 16 episodes from season one of the series are now available and the Joost client is free, so if you're interested check it out here.